Best Walking Shoe Frequently Asked Questions

How to Make Your Feet Comfortable and Happy!


Before selecting the best walking shoe for your feet, you may have some questions. Over the years, I've received hundreds of questions from people who want to buy a great athletic sneaker, but may have special needs, such as osteoarthritis or overpronation.

I've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions to help you get all of the facts and information you need to make the best purchase of new shoes.

Whether you suffer from osteoarthritis, are an underpronator or overpronator, have Plantar Fasciitis, high arches or flat feet, I can help you find the best walking shoe for your particular needs.

Have a look at this list of most frequently asked questions which will most likely address your questions related to picking the best walking shoe. 

Best Walking Shoes and Knee Osteoarthritis

Q: I have osteoarthritis in my knees. Which shoes would you recommend?

A: If you have a pair of sneakers that you use that are relatively new and of good quality, I would first try an energy absorbing insert in your current pair of sneakers before heading out to buy a brand new pair. This may help relieve your pain.

In fact, a recent study entitled Advances in Insoles an Shoes for Knee Osteoarthritis (Himan & Bennell) found that energy absorbing inserts can help relieve pain. The authors also found that shoes with a flat or low heel that were flexible, not stabilizing, were most likely the best for relieving knee pain.

Some great shoes to choose from are:

Brooks - Adrenaline GTS 18 (Purple/Black/Champagne) Women's Running Shoes This is actually a woman's running shoe, not a walking shoe. Running shoes are a great option for those with osteoarthritis, however. They are made with more cushioning because a runner's foot strikes the ground with more force than a walker's foot does. The extra cushioning can certainly provide more shock absorption which is very beneficial to the knees, especially someone who suffers from pain in the knees. Additionally, they are more flexible than a walking shoe which is also important for someone suffering from osteoarthritis. This particular shoe is Brook's best seller and comes in a variety of colors.
Brooks - Adrenaline GTS 18 (Black/Gold/Red) Men's Running Shoes This men's running shoe is a good choice for someone suffering from osteoarthritis. It is packed with all of the new technology a running shoe can offer but most importantly, it has excellent cushioning which is what you need when you suffer with knee pain.

Best Walking Shoe for High Arches

Q: Can you recommend the best walking shoe for someone with high arches?

A: The best walking shoe for someone  with high arches tend to be neutral-cushioned, with maximum flexibility. This is most likely the type of shoe you will be offered if you walk into an athletic store and tell them you have high arches.

And a neutral shoe is a great choice for someone with high arches. In addition, most people with high arches are also underpronators or supinators (their feet roll outward as they walk). So a neutral shoe will provide the flexibility and cushioning your feet need.

Finding the right shoes is very important because wearing a shoe that doesn't have enough flexibility and cushioning can lead to pain in your shins, knees and joints.

Here are some great recommendations for neutral shoes:

Womens Saucony Grid Integrity ST2 Walking Shoe - This is a very well-made, durable shoe that is offered at a great price. It provides a lot of flexibility, especially in the forefoot. This is a great shoe for those with high arches. They can be worn all day.
New Balance - MW1865v1 (Grey/Black) Men's Shoes

The men's New Balance 1865v1 is packed with cushioning and are soft and lightweight to keep your feet comfortable all day.


Womens Saucony Echelon LE 2 Walking Shoe - This is a good shoe for a neutral walker because it provides good arch support and receives high marks for comfort and durability.

Now, things can get a bit more complicated when you have high arches and are an overpronator, not an underpronator, as described above. An overpronator is someone whose feet roll inward when they strike the ground. An overpronator needs a more supportive shoe to avoid having arch pain.

I found this out the hard, or should I say painful way! A neutral shoe was recommended to me by an athletic shoe store clerk for my high arches. As soon as I got them home and started walking in them, I had terrible pain in my arches. I took them back to the store and learned that because I am also an overpronator, I need extra support to help control my overpronation, which causes stress and pain to my arches. I exchanged the neutral pair for a stability shoe and poof, the arch pain was gone.

How can you tell if you are an underpronator or overpronator? Have a look at this page I created on how to select the best walking shoes. It will walk you step-by-step through the process of identifying what type of pronator you are. You can also visit a podiatrist or an athletic shoe store that has the technology to analyze your feet and how you walk to provide detailed information about your degree of pronation, among other things.

Best Walking Shoe for an Overpronator

Q: I am an overpronator. Which is the best walking shoe?

A: An overpronator is someone whose feet roll inward too much as they strike the ground.

The Sports Injury Clinic provides a great explanation of overpronation. When the feet roll inward when walking, there is excessive stress put on the inner area of the foot, which can cause pain in your feet, ankles, knees and shins. It can also lead to many injures, such as Plantar Fasciits and shin splints.

Therefore, it is very important to wear a supportive shoe that helps prevent your feet from rolling in. A stability shoe is a great option. Have a look at the stability shoes I've listed in my Best Rated Walking Shoes list.

However, if you have severe overpronation, you may need to wear a motion control shoe, which offers the most support and possibly, wear orthotic insoles as well.

The best way to determine your degree of overpronation is to visit a podiatrist or an athletic shoe store that has the technology to analyze your feet and how you walk. Always buy your shoes from a store with a good exchange policy. The store should let you wear the shoes for a few weeks and exchange them if they aren't the best fit.

Best Walking Shoe for an Underpronator

Q: What is the best walking shoe for an Underpronator?

A: An Underpronator, also known as a Supinator is someone whose feet roll outward as they walk. Those with high arches tend to be underpronators. The best shoe to wear is a neutral shoe because they offer maximum flexibility and cushioning. Take a look at the best neutral walking shoes here. Scroll to the middle of the page and you'll see all of the best rated neutral walking shoes.

Wearing a shoe that is too inflexible can cause injury and pain, such as shin splints. It's also possible to develop knee pain and injury if you don't wear flexible footwear.

Always be sure to purchase your shoes from a store that will allow you to try them out for a few weeks and exchange them if they don't feel right. You can also add orthotic inserts if you are experiencing any pain as a result of your underpronation.

Best Walking Shoe for Plantar Fasciitis

Q: I have very high arches and Plantar Fasciitis in both feet. What is the best walking shoe?

A: Many people with high arches, flat feet as well as overpronators suffer from Plantar Fasciitis. According to WebMD, Plantar Fasciitis can be caused by poor arch support, which strains the ligament in your foot that supports the arch. This strain can cause tiny tears in the ligament, which leads to pain and swelling.

A shoe with good arch support and cushioning is very important to help treat Plantar Fasciitis. There are many other ways to treat it so I highly recommend you visit an informational site such as WebMD for more information.

My shoe recommendations for those with Plantar Fasciitis are:

New Balance - WW928v3 (White/Blue) Women's Walking Shoes - This is a great shoe that comes with New Balance's best cushioning materials. They also provide good arch control and stability and are comfortable enough to wear all day. You can also still find the New Balance 927 models that are an older version of the 928 for nearly half the price at some online stores. Many walkers with Plantar Fasciitis report that this shoe has helped tremendously.
 Saucony - Grid(r) Omni Walker (White/Silver) Men's Shoes - This shoe provides great arch support and is recommended by walkers with Plantar Fasciitis. It is made to be durable and provides good shock absorption.
Saucony - Grid(r) Omni Walker (White/Silver) Women's Shoes - Saucony's Grid System gives the shoe extra stability by centering the heel in the best position. This helps provide extra support. This shoe also has great arch support.

I hope this list of best walking shoe FAQ's has answered a question you may have been thinking of before purchasing a new pair of shoes. If you still have a question, contact me!

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